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St. Johnsbury poses for a portrait with the championship trophy during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU head coach Ute Otley and St. Johnsbury head coach Jack Driscoll talk to each other during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU listens to the National Anthem during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU and St. Johnsbury battle for the opening tip off during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

The CVU bench celebrates during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) shoots the ball over CVU's Kaylee Beyor (24) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Neva Bostic (23) battles for the loose ball with CVU's Mary Askew (5) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Josie Choiniere (24) drives to the hoop past CVU's Julia Balance (14) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Josie Choiniere (24) leaps for a lay up over CVU's Julia Blanck (14) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Josie Choiniere (24) shoots a free throw during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) shoots the ball during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Josie Choiniere (24) dribbles the ball down the court past CVU's Catherine Gilwee (4) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) drives to the hoop past CVU's Quinn Boardman (10) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Mary Askew (5) leaps to take a shot during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) shoots the ball over CVU's Quinn Boardman (10) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Harper Mead (12) shoots the ball during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Meghan Gilwee (11) shoots the ball over St. Johnsbury's Saleena Porter (00) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Mary Askew (5) drives to the hoop past St. Johnsbury's Josie Choiniere (24) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

The CVU fans raise their hands during a free throw in the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) drives to the hoop past CVU's Mekkena Boyd (3) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury heads to the bench during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) dribbles the ball down the court past CVU's Catherine Gilwee (4) and Mekkena Boyd (3) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) leaps to take a shot during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) dribbles the ball down the court during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury fans cheer for the team during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) blocks the shot by CVU's Julia Blanck (14) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury fans holds up a sign during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Quinn Boardman (10) leaps for a lay up during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Saleena Porter (00) fouls CVU's Kaylee Beyor (24) as she drives to the hoop during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Mekkena Boyd (3) drives to the hoop past st. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Julia Blanck (14) drives to the hoop past St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

The CVU bench cheers for the team during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Julia Blanck (14) leaps to take a shot over St. Johnsbury's Saleena Porter (00) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Mekkena Boyd (3) shoots a free throw during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) blocks the shot by CVU's Mekkena Boyd (3) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) drives to the hoop
during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

The St. Johnsbury bench cheers for the team during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) cheers during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury celebrates the championship during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury captains Sadie Stetson (5) and Josie Choiniere (24) hold up the championship trophy during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury head coachJack Driscoll holds up the net for the fans during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU warms up during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU huddles together during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

CVU's Bray Hunter (15) shoots the ball over St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) shoots the ball over CVU's Harper Mead (12) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) leaps for a lay up over CVU's Kaylee Beyor (24) and Catherine Gilwee (4) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) battles for the loose ball with CVU's Julia Blanck (14) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury's Lara Rohkohl (12) blocks the shot by CVU's Mekkena Boyd (3) during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

The teams huddles together during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

St. Johnsbury celebrates the championship during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont. BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press

With a flick of her wrist, Neva Bostic altered the complexion of Sunday's Division I high school girls state championship game.

Well, three flicks to be exact.

The senior Bostic coolly poured in a trio of 3-pointers during a spell-binding third quarter, all the momentum needed for No. 2 St. Johnsbury to slay top-seeded and undefeated Champlain Valley 42-35 for the second time in as many seasons in front of 1,747 at Patrick Gym.

Bostic finished with 10 points, all in the third frame, while Gatorade player of the year Sadie Stetson (12 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, two blocks) and fellow backcourt leader Josie Choiniere (13 points, 8-for-9 at the foul line) did their part to power SJA (22-2) to back-to-back D-I titles.

And while SJA's stars shined once more on the University of Vermont's big floor, it was Bostic's game-changing triples that pushed SJA over the top and put CVU in a hole from which it couldn't recover.

"Those three 3s were just devastating," CVU coach Ute Otley said.

SJA coach Jack Driscoll: "Clearly the turning point. It really got us pumped up and energized — it was a huge lift."

Neva Bostic (23) and teammates head to the bench during the Division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press)

Tied at 17 at the half, Bostic was fouled on a long 3-point splash and then made the ensuing foul shot for a four-point play.

Bostic then unloaded two more 3-pointers, the latter giving the Hilltoppers a 29-19 margin with 2:42 left in the quarter.

"Well, my teammates set me up, I was open and when I’m open I shoot it. That’s how it goes," Bostic said.

In the span of 2:32, Bostic's triples flipped the script and gave SJA full control against a rival it was playing in the championship game for the third straight year. The Hilltoppers outscored CVU 14-2 in the decisive frame.

"It went from tied to nine like that," Otley said. "It felt like we had some really unlucky bounces of the ball that created those openings for her, and boy did she capitalize."

After a brief absence late in the season due to injury, Bostic returned just before the playoffs — she missed the second encounter with CVU — and caught fire as soon as games became must-win.

She buried five 3-pointers in the playdowns, five more in the quarterfinals and then two in the semifinals before Sunday's capper.

"I stopped thinking about shooting and started thinking about defense because defense is more important," Bostic said. "As soon as stopped thinking about shooting, (shots) just started to go."

St. Johnsbury celebrates the championship during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press)

Ahead 31-19 through three quarters, SJA went 11-for-16 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to seal it. But it was a hair-raising final eight minutes as CVU mounted charge after charge.

A Harper Mead triple and Kaylee Beyor post move sliced the SJA advantage to 31-24 to start the fourth.

SJA kept CVU at bay with its free throws, paced by Choiniere, until Catherine Gilwee drained a corner 3-pointer to make it 36-31 with 1:28 to go.

A Mead steal on the inbounds play almost led to a CVU layup but the missed shot — which would have cut the SJA lead to one possession — summed up the Redhawks' day from inside the 3-point line.

CVU connected on more 3s (seven) than two-pointers (four). The Redhawks, who started 5 of 5 on triples, finished 11 of 43 from the floor.

"We didn’t feel like we could take everything away from them, so we wanted to clog the paint and keep the ball out of the middle," Driscoll said. "Their interior passing is really good and we wanted to deny that if we could."

CVU's Quinn Boardman (10) leaps for a lay up during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press)

Mekkena Boyd scored 10 points while Gilwee finished with nine and Mead six to pace CVU, sent home with the runner-up trophy for the second straight winter.

"With a 1:12 left I thought we were still going to win this thing. I have no complaints," Otley said. "This has been one of my favorite teams to coach. I told them, ‘I’d rather lose with you guys than win with anybody else,' and that’s the God’s honest truth."

St. Johnsbury's Sadie Stetson (5) cheers during the division I girls basketball championship basketball game between the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers and the Champlain Valley Union Redhawks at Patrick Gym on Sunday afternoon March 10, 2019 in Burlington, Vermont.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press)

For the Hilltoppers, a second title vs. CVU wasn't a validation of the first. But it sure felt good.

"Winning two in a row is a big deal. And winning two in a row against CVU is a bigger deal," Driscoll said. "They have been here nine times in a row, they were the No. 1 seed this year. To come in here and play like we did today was just fantastic."

And perfect way to close a chapter for Stetson, one of three seniors.

"It’s pretty great but it’s also bittersweet too being the last high school game I’ll play, especially with this crew that we’ve been with for the past four years," Stetson said. "It’s jut awesome, especially two in a row and they were undefeated — that made it even better."

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Contact Alex Abrami at 660-1848 or aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @aabrami5.